Jakarta's coffee murder: Police not in rush to question suspect

Mirna’s friend, Jessica, faces the reporters in Jakarta.

PHOTO: Youtube

The police have said that they are not in a rush to complete the investigation into the death of Wayan Mirna Salihin because their investigators were digging into the case and trying to collect strong evidence.

"If the case can be completed soon, it will be good for the police. However, the police do not have to be in a rush in investigating this case," said Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"The stronger the evidence that the police have, the better it will be," he said, adding that the detention of the suspect could be maintained for up to four months.

In the Mirna murder case, the police have named Jessica Kumala Wongso, who shared a table with Mirna at the Olivier cafe in Central Jakarta, the prime suspect. Mirna died shortly after drinking iced coffee ordered by Jessica. The police have said that Mirna's death was caused by cyanide poison.

Woman dies after drinking cyanide-laced coffee in Jakarta cafe

Tito said the police were still waiting for an endorsement from the Australian government to co-operate with the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The police hope to gain from the AFP some insight into Jessica and Mirna's relationship in Australia.

"We cannot jump into an investigation without an endorsement from Australia's attorney general and justice minister. [After that], it will be the time for us to work with the AFP to do the investigation," Tito told journalists.

Tito said Jessica's status as a permanent resident of Australia would not hamper the police's investigation because the status of permanent resident meant that Jessica was still an Indonesian citizen.